Power supply control apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a pump ( 1 ) for fixing on a receptacle, the pump comprising:  
     a stationary portion including a pump body ( 16 );  
     a moving assembly ( 3 ) movable relative to the pump body ( 16 ) and co-operating therewith to define a pump chamber ( 17 ) of variable volume;  
     at least one opening ( 24 ) in the pump body enabling the pump chamber to communicate with the inside of the receptacle and disposed in such a manner as to enable the pump to operate in the head-down position;  
     an air intake passage between the stationary portion ( 2 ) and the moving assembly ( 3 ), said passage being distinct from said opening ( 24 );  
     a first lip ( 40 ) arranged to press in leaktight manner against the pump body ( 16 ) and prevent communication via said opening ( 24 ) between the inside of the receptacle and the pump chamber ( 17 ); and  
     a second lip ( 41 ) arranged, at least when the moving assembly is in an end-of-stroke position, to prevent communication through the inside of the pump body and via said opening between the inside of the receptacle and the outside.

[0001] The present invention relates to a pump for mounting on areceptacle to enable a substance to be dispensed while the receptacle isin different positions, in particular a head-up position or a head-downposition.

[0002] French patent application FR 2 528 122 discloses a pump enablingsubstance to be dispensed while head-up or head-down, the pumpcomprising a pump body and a moving assembly in the pump body,co-operating therewith to define a pump chamber of variable volume. Thepump body includes an opening enabling the substance contained in thereceptacle to penetrate into the pump chamber while the pump is in usehead-down. The moving assembly includes a lip enabling theabove-mentioned opening to be isolated from the pump chamber after ithas been engaged by a certain amount in the pump body. If the pump iskept head-down over a long period, it is not impossible that thesubstance might leak out through said opening, particularly if thesubstance is not very viscous.

[0003] The present invention seeks in particular to provide a pump ofrelatively simple structure that enables a substance to be dispensed insatisfactory manner with the pump head-up or head-down, and even if thesubstance is not very viscous.

[0004] In one of its aspects, the invention provides a pump for fixingon a receptacle, the pump comprising:

[0005] a stationary portion including a pump body;

[0006] a moving assembly movable relative to the pump body andco-operating therewith to define a pump chamber of variable volume;

[0007] at least one opening in the pump body enabling the pump chamberto communicate with the inside of the receptacle and disposed in such amanner as to enable the pump to operate in the head-down position;

[0008] an air intake passage between the stationary portion and themoving assembly, said passage being distinct from said opening;

[0009] a first lip arranged, after displacement of the moving assemblyfrom a rest position in the substance-dispensing direction, to press inleaktight manner against the pump body and to prevent communication viasaid opening between the inside of the receptacle and the pump chamber;and

[0010] a second lip situated above the first, when the pump is observedin the head-up position, said second lip being arranged, at least whenthe moving assembly is in an end-of-stroke position inside the pumpbody, to press in leaktight manner against the pump body and preventcommunication via the inside of the pump body and said opening betweenthe inside of the receptacle and the outside.

[0011] The invention makes it possible to provide a pump with an airintake passage which can extend at least in part within the pump body,e.g. by clearance formed between a rod of the moving assembly and thestationary portion. This can avoid the need to use sealing means thatwould be complex and expensive to implement between the above-mentionedrod and the stationary portion.

[0012] When air intake takes place via clearance between the rod and thestationary portion, the invention also makes it possible to reduce anyrisk of substance leaking in the event of the pump being kept head-down,whether at rest or when the moving assembly is in an end-of-strokeposition inside the pump body, since the second lip can prevent thesubstance entering via the opening from passing via the pump body toreach the air intake passage and then flow out from the pump.

[0013] Preferably, the pump includes an annular gasket for placingbetween the stationary portion and the top end of the neck of thereceptacle on which the pump is mounted, the gasket including aradially-inner portion which can firstly press against the pump body toprevent the substance contained in the receptacle from flowing towardsthe outside, and secondly can move away therefrom under the effect ofsuction inside the receptacle in order to allow ingress of air. In avariant, the gasket does not press on the pump body. However theclearance between the gasket and the pump body is then sufficientlysmall to prevent the substance from passing, while still allowing air topass.

[0014] In an embodiment of the invention, the pump presents a baseportion enabling the pump to be secured to the receptacle, the pump bodybeing held, in particular by snap-fastening, on said base portion.

[0015] The above-mentioned air intake passage may be formed at least inpart between said base portion and the pump body.

[0016] In an embodiment of the invention, at least one of the first andsecond lips is arranged to press continuously against the pump body, andpreferably both lips press continuously against the pump body.

[0017] The first lip may be substantially frustoconical in shape,flaring towards the pump chamber, and the second lip may be arcuate inshape with its concave side towards the inside surface of the pump body,pressing against the pump body via bottom and top edges.

[0018] When the pump is a precompression pump, the moving assembly mayinclude a shutter arranged to close a passage for delivering thesubstance while the volume of the pump chamber is increasing, and torelease said passage while the volume of the pump chamber is decreasing,and once the pressure of the substance inside the pump chamber hasreached a predefined value.

[0019] It would not go beyond the ambit of the present invention for thepump to include other precompression mechanisms or for it not to be aprecompression pump.

[0020] The moving assembly may include an inside space into which thesubstance outlet passage opens out and in which the shutter is disposed.

[0021] The shutter may comprise a tubular body closed at its top end bya substantially frustoconical portion suitable for closing the substanceoutlet passage.

[0022] The shutter may also include an annular lip on the outside of thetubular body suitable for pressing against a wall defining theabove-mentioned inside space, said annular lip presenting, when the pumpis observed in the head-up position, a shape that is substantiallyfrustoconical diverging upwards and situated beneath the passage(s)putting said inside space into communication with the pump chamber.

[0023] The shutter may be urged towards its closed position by aresilient return element disposed in the inside space, said resilientreturn element being constituted by a helical spring working incompression, for example.

[0024] Advantageously, the pump includes a resilient return elementsuitable for returning the moving assembly into its rest position. Thisresilient return element may be disposed inside the pump chamber and maycomprise a helical spring working in compression. Without going beyondthe ambit of the present invention, it is also possible for this returnelement to be disposed outside the pump chamber, particularly if it isdesired to avoid it coming into contact with the substance.

[0025] In an embodiment of the invention, the pump body is arranged toenable a dip tube to be fixed thereto.

[0026] For a pump including a suction check valve that closes while thevolume of the front chamber is decreasing and that opens while thevolume of the pump chamber is increasing, the check valve may bedisposed in such a manner as to enable the pump chamber to be fed withsubstance via the dip tube when the pump is used in a head-up position.

[0027] The invention also provides a receptacle fitted with a pump asdefined above.

[0028] The invention can be better understood on reading the followingdetailed description of a non-limiting embodiment thereof, and onexamining the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0029]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic and fragmentary axial section view of apump constituting an embodiment of the invention, the moving assemblybeing shown in its rest position;

[0030]FIG. 2 is a view analogous to FIG. 1, after the pushbutton hasbeen depressed; and

[0031]FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic and fragmentary view showing a detail ofthe FIG. 2 pump.

[0032] The pump 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is for mounting on a neck 52 ofa receptacle 53 that can be seen in FIG. 3, the receptacle containing asubstance P for dispensing, e.g. a substance having low viscosity suchas a perfume.

[0033] The pump 1 comprises a stationary portion 2 and a moving assembly3 capable of moving relative to the stationary portion 2 along an axisX.

[0034] The stationary portion has a base portion 4 with an internallythreaded assembly skirt 5 for securing to the neck 52 of the receptacle53 by screw fastening in the example described. The base portion 4 maybe fixed to the neck of the receptacle in some other manner withoutthereby going beyond the ambit of the present invention, e.g. bysnap-fastening, adhesive, heat-sealing, or crimping.

[0035] The stationary portion 2 further comprises a pump body 16co-operating with the moving assembly 3 to define a pump chamber 17 ofvariable volume.

[0036] The moving assembly 3 comprises a piston 30 made integrally witha hollow rod 31 having a top end with a pushbutton 25 secured thereto.

[0037] The assembly skirt 5 is extended upwards by a neck 7 surroundinga central portion 8 of the base portion 4. This central portion 8comprises two coaxial tubular walls 9 and 12 interconnected by anannular wall 11 at their top end, thereby defining a downwardly openannular groove in which the pump body 16 is engaged.

[0038] At its bottom end, the central portion 8 is connected to the neck7 by an annular wall 10 extending perpendicularly to the axis X.

[0039] The radially-inner tubular wall 12 defines a passage 13 for therod 31 of the moving assembly 3. At its bottom end, this passage 13defines a downwardly flaring frustoconical surface 13 a about the axis Xthat comes to bear in leaktight manner against a correspondingfrustoconical surface 31 a of the rod 31 that converges upwards when thepump is at rest, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0040] The radially-outer tubular wall 9 has a bead 14 on its radiallyinside face enabling the pump body 16 to be snap-fastened to the baseportion 4, the pump body 16 being provided for this purpose with anannular bead 23 at its top end.

[0041] The base portion 4 carries an annular gasket 51 for interposingbetween the annular wall 10 and the top end of the neck 52 of thereceptacle 53, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0042] The radially-inner portion 51 a of the gasket 51 normally pressesagainst the pump body 16 to prevent the substance contained in thereceptacle from flowing outwards.

[0043] In the example described, the pump body 16 presents a circularlycylindrical portion 16 a about the axis X, and at its bottom end it hasan endpiece 18 for use in securing a dip tube 19.

[0044] The endpiece 18 defines a seat for a suction check valveconstituted by a ball 20. The ball is retained in its housing by atleast one tab 21 of the pump body 16.

[0045] In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the pump body 16has an opening 24 situated in the example described substantiallyhalfway up the pump body, and enabling the pump chamber 17 to be putinto communication with the inside of the receptacle when the movingassembly 3 is at rest, the volume of the pump chamber then being at itsmaximum.

[0046] The pushbutton 25 includes a dispenser orifice 26 implementedwith a conventional nozzle having swirling channels 27 fitted onto theremainder of the pushbutton, thus enabling the substance P to bedispensed in the form of a spray.

[0047] The rod 31 has a channel 29 enabling the substance to reach theorifice 26.

[0048] In the example described, the piston 30 has first and secondannular lips 40 and 41.

[0049] The first lip 40 is substantially frustoconical in shape,diverging towards the bottom of the pump chamber 14 and pressing inleaktight manner against the inside surface of the cylindrical portion16 a of the pump body 16. This first lip 40 is situated above theopening 24 when the pump is in its rest position, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0050] The second annular lip 41 is situated above the first lip 40, andalso presses in leaktight manner against the inside surface of thecylindrical portion 16 a of the pump body 16. In the example described,this second lip 41 presents an arcuate shape with its concave sidefacing towards the inside surface of the body 16, and it presses againstthe body 16 via bottom and top edges 41 a and 41 b.

[0051] The rod 31 is extended downwards by a hollow endpiece 32 that isclosed at its bottom end.

[0052] By way of example, this endpiece 32 is secured to the rod 31 bysnap-fastening and it includes an outside shoulder 33 against which thetop end of a helical spring 34 operating in compression bears, thebottom end of the spring resting against the bottom of the pump body 16.

[0053] Passages 36 are made between the pump chamber 17, outside theendpiece 32, and the inside space 35 of the endpiece so as to enable thesubstance contained in the pump chamber 17 to reach the channel 29 whilethe volume of the pump chamber 17 is decreasing.

[0054] In the inside space 35, the moving assembly 3 includes a shutter42 that is movable between a closed position closing the channel 29 anda dispensing position enabling the substance to flow into the channel 29and on to the orifice 26.

[0055] The shutter 42 comprises a tubular body 43 of axis X that isclosed at its top end by a frustoconical portion 44 suitable for bearingagainst a seat made in the rod 31 to close the channel 29 when the pumpis at rest, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0056] The shutter 42 also comprises an annular lip 46 outside thetubular body 43 suitable for pressing against the inside surface of theendpiece 32.

[0057] When the pump is observed in the head-up position, the annularlip 46 presents a frustoconical shape that diverges upwards, and it ispositioned beneath the passages 36 putting the inside space 35 intocommunication with the pump chamber 17.

[0058] A helical spring 45 working in compression urges the shutter 42into its closed position at rest, as can be seen in FIG. 1. This spring45 has its bottom end bearing against the end wall of the endpiece 32and has its top end bearing against the base of the lip 46.

[0059] While there is suction inside the receptacle, air can be suckedinto it by flowing between the neck 7 and the pushbutton 25, and whilethe pushbutton is depressed, through the clearance that exists betweenthe rod 31 and the tubular wall 12, between said wall and the pump body16, between the annular wall 11 and the body 16, and then between thetubular wall 9 and the pump body 16, and finally between the gasket 51and the body 16.

[0060]FIG. 2 shows the air intake path 50.

[0061] Between the tubular wall 9 and the body 16, air can flow viadiametrically-opposite axial grooves made through the bead 14. Theradially-inner portion 51 a of the annular gasket 51 can move away alittle from the pump body 16 so as to allow the air flowing between thetubular wall 9 and the pump body 16 to reach the inside of thereceptacle, as can be seen in FIG. 3.

[0062] The pump 1 operates as follows.

[0063] It is assumed that the pump is being used in the head-upposition, and is initially in its rest position as shown in FIG. 1. Itis assumed that the pump chamber 17 is full of substance, following anearlier cycle in which the pump has been actuated.

[0064] In order to dispense the substance, the user exerts downwardpressure on the pushbutton 25, and the moving assembly 23 moves relativeto the pump body 16 so that the pressure of the substance contained inthe pump chamber 17 increases, with the ball 20 being pressed againstits seat.

[0065] The shutter 42 remains in its position closing the channel 29until the pressure of the substance in the inside space 35 above theannular lip 46 is sufficient to overcome the return force of the spring45.

[0066] Once the moving assembly 3 has been depressed sufficiently, thepressure exerted by the substance on the lip 46 causes the shutter 42 tomove downwards, thereby releasing access to the channel 29.

[0067] Continued displacement of the moving assembly 3 relative to thepump body 16 causes the substance contained in the pump chamber 17 andin the inside space 35 to be expelled.

[0068] During this displacement, the first lip 40 isolates the pumpchamber 17 from the opening 24 and the second annular lip 41 serves toisolate the opening 24 of the air intake passage.

[0069] During the displacement of the moving assembly 3, the spring 34is compressed.

[0070] When the user ceases to press on the pushbutton 25, the spring 34drives the moving assembly 3 upwards and the spring 45 returns theshutter 42 into its position where it closes the channel 29.

[0071] Continued upward movement of the moving assembly 3 relative tothe pump body 16 is accompanied by substance being sucked into the pumpchamber 17 under the effect of the suction that is created therein.

[0072] Air intake can take place along the path 50 in order tocompensate inside the receptacle for the volume of substance that istaken by the pump 1.

[0073] When the pump returns to its rest position, some substance mayremain inside the pump chamber 17 because the ball 20 tends, under theeffect of its own weight, to press against its seat and close offcommunication between the dip tube and the pump chamber 17.

[0074] When the pump is used in the head-down position, the pump chamber17 can fill via the opening 24 because air can escape via the dip tube.Substance is dispensed in the same manner as in head-up position.

[0075] When the pump 1 is in the head-down position and at rest, thefact that the first lip 40 presses in leaktight manner against the pumpbody 16 serves to avoid any risk of substance leaking out through theclearance that exists between the rod 31 and the central portion 8 ofthe base portion 4.

[0076] This risk of substance leaking out is also prevented or reducedif the pump is in the head-down position with the moving assembly 3 inits end-of-stroke position, because of the second lip 41 pressingagainst the pump body 16.

[0077] A pump of the invention can advantageously be made out of pumpparts with or without air intake and sold under the reference M300 bythe supplier Calmar, a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain.

[0078] Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodimentdescribed above.

[0079] In particular, the pump body could have not one but severalopenings 24.

[0080] Throughout the description, including in the claims, the term“comprising a” should be understood as being synonymous with “comprisingat least one”, unless specified to the contrary.

1. A pump (1) for fixing on a receptacle, the pump comprising: astationary portion including a pump body (16); a moving assembly (3)movable relative to the pump body (16) and co-operating therewith todefine a pump chamber (17) of variable volume; at least one opening (24)in the pump body enabling the pump chamber to communicate with theinside of the receptacle and disposed in such a manner as to enable thepump to operate in the head-down position; an air intake passage betweenthe stationary portion (2) and the moving assembly (3), said passagebeing distinct from said opening (24); a first lip (40) arranged, afterdisplacement of the moving assembly from a rest position in thesubstance-dispensing direction, to press in leaktight manner against thepump body (16) and to prevent communication via said opening (24)between the inside of the receptacle and the pump chamber (17); and asecond lip (41) situated above the first, when the pump is observed inthe head-up position, said second lip being arranged, at least when themoving assembly is in an end-of-stroke position inside the pump body, topress in leaktight manner against the pump body and preventcommunication via the inside of the pump body and said opening betweenthe inside of the receptacle and the outside.
 2. A pump according to thepreceding claim, characterized by the fact that it includes an annulargasket (51) for interposing between the stationary portion and the topend (52) of the neck of the receptacle on which the pump is mounted,said gasket including a radially-inner portion (51 a) pressing againstthe pump body to prevent the substance contained in the receptacle fromflowing to the outside, and suitable for moving away therefrom under theeffect of suction to enable ingress of air from the outside towards theinside of the receptacle.
 3. A pump according to any preceding claim,characterized by the fact that it includes a base portion (4) enablingthe pump to be fixed on a receptacle, the pump body (16) being fixed onsaid base portion, in particular by snap-fastening.
 4. A pump accordingto the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the air intakepassage is formed at least in part between the base portion (4) and thepump body (16).
 5. A pump according to any preceding claim,characterized by the fact that at least one of the first and second lips(40, 41) is arranged to press permanently against the pump body (16),and preferably both lips press permanently against the pump body.
 6. Apump according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact thatthe first lip (40) presents a substantially frustoconical shapediverging towards the pump chamber.
 7. A pump according to any precedingclaim, characterized by the fact that the second lip (41) presents anarcuate shape that is concave towards the inside surface of the pumpbody, pressing via bottom and top edges against the pump body.
 8. A pumpaccording to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that themoving assembly (3) includes an outlet passage for the substance and ashutter (42) arranged to close said passage while the volume of the pumpchamber is increasing and to release said passage while the volume ofthe pump chamber is decreasing, and once the pressure of the substanceinside the pump chamber has reached a predefined value.
 9. A pumpaccording to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that themoving assembly has an inside space (35) into which the substance outletpassage opens out and in which the shutter (42) is disposed.
 10. A pumpaccording to claim 8 or claim 9, characterized by the fact that theshutter comprises a tubular body (43) closed at its top end by asubstantially frustoconical portion (44) suitable for closing thesubstance outlet passage.
 11. A pump according to the preceding claim,characterized by the fact that the shutter further includes an annularlip (46) outside the tubular body and suitable for pressing against awall defining the inside space (35), said annular lip presenting, whenthe pump is observed in the head-up position, a shape that issubstantially frustoconical, diverging upwards and situated beneath thepassage(s) (36) putting the inside: space (35) into communication withthe pump chamber.
 12. A pump according to any one of claims 9 to 11,characterized by the fact that the shutter is urged into its closedposition by a resilient return element (45) disposed inside the in theinside space (35), the resilient return element preferably being ahelical spring working in compression.
 13. A pump according to anypreceding claim, characterized by the fact that it includes a resilientreturn element (34) suitable for returning the moving assembly into itsrest position.
 14. A pump according to the preceding claim,characterized by the fact that the resilient return element (34) isdisposed in the pump chamber (17).
 15. A pump according to any precedingclaim, characterized by the fact that the pump body (16) is arranged toenable a dip tube (19) to be fixed thereto.
 16. A pump according to thepreceding claim, including a suction check valve (20) that closes whilethe volume of the pump chamber is decreasing and that opens while thevolume of the pump chamber is increasing, the pump being characterizedby the fact that this check valve is disposed in such a manner as toenable the pump chamber to be fed with substance via the dip tube whenthe pump is used in the head-up position.
 17. A receptacle fitted with apump according to any preceding claim.